The US supports Taiwan’s participation in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and is looking for ways to achieve that goal and promote Taiwan’s participation in appropriate organizations, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Russel said on Thursday.
“We very much agree that Taiwan is a net contributor to international law enforcement and we’re looking for ways to build on that,” Russel said during a hearing before the US House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, which introduced a bill urging US President Barack Obama to push for observer status for Taiwan in Interpol last week.
Sponsored by US Representative Matt Salmon, chairman of the subcommittee, the bill would require Obama to submit an official request on Taiwan’s behalf to Interpol and develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan, including actively urging member states to assist in the effort.
Russel said that the executive branch of the US government also supports Taiwan’s participation in Interpol and Taiwan’s bid to be a member of international organizations for which “statehood is not a prerequisite.”
The US will promote Taiwan’s bid to gain observer status or to benefit from international organizations when membership is not possible due to the objection of Beijing, he said.
Salmon said that he expects the bill to clear the House of Representatives swiftly and go directly to the White House, as the bill has bipartisan backing in US Congress and is supported by the executive branch.
Taiwan was a full member of Interpol from 1964 until 1984, when the People’s Republic of China applied for membership.
Meanwhile, asked whether there would be a second phase of negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and whether Taiwan and China might join the TPP, Russel said that the top priority is to finalize the first phase of negotiations, adding that it is a good sign that the key trading partners of the US, including Taiwan and South Korea, have shown a keen interest in joining the TPP.
The possibility of China participation in the TPP has been the cause of much speculation, but China’s entry is welcomed provided that China is able to meet all the TPP requirements in terms of international trade policy, workers’ rights and environmental issues, he added.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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